Investigating
the Past through Sanborn Maps
In April, 1889 the
Sanborn Map and Publishing Company published a detailed map of
Milledgeville which gave information concerning the structures found
in the city. These maps were commissioned in order to provide fire
insurance companies with information about the kinds of materials
used to construct each structure as well as the distance between
houses. A fire that started in town could spread easily from house
to house. Brick and masonry buildings were highly preferred to
wooden buildings. Interestingly, through the work of the Sanborn
Company changes in sizes of buildings as well as growth in
neighborhoods was recorded for the future.
Activity 1: Tracing the Past:
Upon completion of
this activity, students should be able to:
- Discuss the original reasons for
the Sanborn Maps.
- Make historic assumptions based
upon the maps.
QCC
Objectives:
Grade 4: Topics/Concepts: A4, A12, E40, E41 Skills: A1, A2, A6, A7,
B11, C17, C23
Grade 8: Skills: A1, A2, A10, A11, C20, C25, D38, D39, E45, E53, E56
For
this lesson you will need the following images:
Suggested Lesson:
- Give each student a copy of each
of the maps.
- Ask the students to list the
changes to the building that are evident on each map.
- Divide the students into groups.
Instruct them to create a time line of change for the mansion in
each group.
- After the groups have finished the
time line of change, ask them to give reasons for the changes
that they have recorded. (For example, the Mansion became a
dormitory which is made for multiple housing. The annex was
constructed, which should indicate a change in the population of
the college. Over the years, bathrooms and the kitchen are added
along with electric lights, a steam boiler and a greenhouse.
Many of these changes were made in an effort to
"modernize" the building.) What do these changes tell
us about the college and/or the time periods?
Activity 2: Creating a Sanborn Map
Upon completion of
this activity, students should be able to:
- Create a Sanborn map of their
personal residence.
- Identify various materials and
information necessary to insure a house using 19th century
standards.
- Utilize measurement and
mathematical skills to produce a scaled drawing of a structure.
QCC
Objectives:
Grade 4: Skills: A4, E41, E42
Grade 8: Skills: A5, A6, B14, E45, E46, E47, E48, E53, E56
Suggested Lesson:
- As an assignment, have the
students draw a Sanborn-type map of their house, apartment
building, trailer, etc.
- Remind the students that these
maps were created for fire insurance documentation. They will
need to record the heat, power and water sources for the
structure as well as the construction materials used and any
structural fireplaces. They will also want to draw the roads
that give access to the structure.
(If there is a student whose house has been modified, he/she
might want to show the additions that have been made.)
***NOTE: A school building can be substituted as a resource for
this activity.
- Older students with more advanced
mathematical skills might be interested in drawing the structure
to scale which would integrate measurement activities into the
lesson.
Activity 3: Writing to Explore
Ideas
Upon completion of
this activity, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate creative writing
skills using historically based information.
QCC
Objectives:
Grade 4: Skills: A2, A4, A5, A6, A8, B10, B15, B16
Grade 8: Skills: A2, A4, A6, A7, A8, A10, A12, B14, B15, B16, B17
For
this lesson, you will need the following image:
-
The
Fire
Suggested Lesson:
- Give a copy of the newspaper
article describing the fire at the Governor's Mansion in 1870 to
each student. Ask the students to imagine that they lived in
Milledgeville in 1870 and that they either witnessed the fire or
that they are a newspaper reporter. They can choose one of the
following activities:
- Write a letter home or a diary
entry describing the fire, paying close attention to
details.
- Interview someone who was
present at the fire for a front page article. The student
may want to create a front page complete with headline,
article and illustration.
Click here for the Third Lesson,
Reading
Wills
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